I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the salmon belly recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of salmon belly. Later, we will look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
Salmon Belly
Salmon belly is the fatty portion of the fish present near its belly. It is loved by people due to its soft texture and delicious taste and it contains more fat as compared to other fish. Chefs prefer the salmon belly because it contains a lot of flavour in the dishes like baked salmon or sushi.
Salmon belly is the most valued part of the fish that contains special taste and health advantages, making it popular among chefs and seafood lovers.
Salmon Belly Recipe Tips
- Choose fresh salmon belly: Make sure to choose a salmon belly that feels firm and contains a bright pink colour. Avoid choosing the salmon belly that looks dull or smells bad.
- Avoid overcooking the salmon belly: Avoid overcooking the salmon belly, it should be cooked through but must contain slight moisture.
- Pat the salmon belly: Make sure to pat the salmon belly dry before cooking. It makes the skin crispy.
- Seasoning: Make sure to season the salmon belly with salt and pepper. You can also season it with another seasoning like paprika, garlic powder, or chilli flakes.
- Serve the salmon belly immediately: Make sure to serve the salmon belly immediately. You can enjoy it on its own or using a dipping sauce like sriracha mayo, soy sauce or ponzu.
Variations
- Classic seared salmon belly: This method is simple and shows the natural richness of the salmon. Season it and cook it skin-side down until the skin is crispy and the meat is tender.
- Salmon belly sushi: You can enjoy the maki sushi prepared with a salmon belly, which shows the delicious texture and taste.
- Honey glazed salmon belly: Before cooking, brush the honey glaze onto the salmon belly for a touch of caramelized and sweet flavour.
- Salmon belly poke bowl: Cut the cooked belly into little pieces and place it on top of the rice. You can include toppings like cucumber, avocados and a little bit of ponzu sauce for a delightful dish.
- Salmon belly yakitori: Place the salmon belly cubes on a stick and cook over charcoal for a delicious Japanese-style yakitori dish.
What to serve
- Light and fresh: You can serve the grilled asparagus, cooked green beans, couscous with herbs and mixed vegetables with a tangy dressing.
- Complementary flavour: For a complementary flavour, you can go for roasted Brussels sprouts with the balsamic glaze, wild rice pilaf, potato gratin and roasted cherry tomatoes with herbs.
- Balancing acidity: For a balancing acidity, you can prefer a salad with arugula and lemon dressing, or coleslaw with a tangy and sweet flavour.
- Mediterranean twist: For a Mediterranean twist, you can include chopped tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, fresh herbs and slices of lemon.
- Hearty and comforting: You can opt for a hearty and comforting twist like baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, brown rice with toasted nuts and cooked kale.
Storing and freezing
- Make sure to wrap the salmon belly in the aluminium foil and plastic wrap, it avoids freezer burn.
- Make sure to place the salmon belly in an air-tight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. It helps in avoiding the freezer burn.
- Make sure to label the container or bag with the freezing date to keep track of the freshness.
- You can store the salmon belly in the freezer for up to 2-3 months without losing its quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the salmon belly recipe offers a culinary adventure in the cooking world. The salmon belly is a great option for seafood lovers and home cooks irrespective of its juicy texture, and tasty flavour.
So, whether you are planning a party, or family gathering or looking for new cooking ideas, the salmon belly provides a variety of delicious options you can try.
Read More:- Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe Crockpot
Salmon Belly Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon belly skin-on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon slices
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the grill over medium-high heat and follow the same forstovetop grill pan.
- In a little bowl, mix the lemon zest, minced garlic, choppedthyme, olive oil, salt, chopped rosemary,and pepper to prepare the marinade.
- To dry the salmon belly, pat it with paper towel then placeit skin-side down on a plate or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the salmonby ensuring that it covers the salmon evenly. Allow it to soak in the marinadefor around 15-30 minutes at room temperature or an hour in the fridge forbetter taste.
- Once the grill is hot, put some oil on the grates to avoidsticking the fish. Now, put the salmon belly on the grill with the skin facingdown and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving it. It makes the skin deliciousand crispy.
- With a help of spatula, gently turn the salmon belly andgrill for an another 3-4 minutes until the meat is opaque and flakes easilywith a help of fork. Avoid overcooking, as it may become dry.
- After cooking the salmon belly, remove it from the grill andput it on a plate. You can garnish it with parsley and serve hot with lemonslices on the side.
- It’s time to serve the salmon belly with your favorite sidedishes like rice, salad, or steamed vegetables etc.
